Apparatus for emptying flexible walled packages of viscous materials



Aug. 16, 1938.

E. PIQUEREZ APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING FLEXIBLE WALLED PACKAGES OF VISGOUSMATERIALS Filed Nov. '7, 1935 Zzven fw@ E /Q UfEfZ Patented Aug. 16,1938 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING FLEXIBLE WALLEDPACKAGES OF VISCOUS MATE- RIALS Emile Piquerez, Saint Cloud, France 11Claims.

This invention has as its object an improved apparatus for emptyingcompletely containers having exible extensible or inextensible walls,containing viscous liquids or pasty materials, such as oils or greases.In order to empty such containers. the walls are generally crushed andmade to approach each other, so as to expel the products in thecontainers. In this manner, for example, tubes of tin or lead areemptied, the use of which is universal.

The improved apparatus according tothe present invention is applicableto all containers of this type, whatever the nature of the materials ofwhich they are constituted and whatever the volume.

The operation of the apparatus according to the invention consists inintroducing the container to be emptied into a tight enclosurel having aspout open to the exterior, in putting the discharge hole of thecontainer in tight communication with the said spout and in introducinga fluid under pressure into the interior of the enclosure, between theinternal wall of the latter and the external wall of the container, soas to crush the latter and to expel from it the product contained in it,which passes out through the spout.

The invention provides apparatus for the purpose set forth comprisingessentially a rigid receptacle, of such dimensions that it can hold theiilled container, a tight movable cover closing the receptacle, a holein a wall of the receptacle or its cover, preferably provided with anexternal spout, means for forcing the discharge hole of the containeragainst the hole in the receptacle, and means for leading a fluid underpressure into the interior of the receptacle.

In a constructional form of the invention, which, at the moment, seemspreferable, the discharge spout is carried by the cover, whilst the holein the container is carried by the part of the wall of the latter whichmust bear against the cover, when the latter is in position.

The entry of the fluid under pressure may be carried out by means of aunion carried by the cover and communicating with the interior of thereceptacle.

The tight-joint between the receptacle and its cover can be obtained bylocking between its parts, a bulging part or a folded part formed on thewall of the container, so as to keep the latter in position.

The inlet of fluid under pressure and the discharge of the material, areadvantageously controlled by interrupting members operablesimultaneously.

The cover can be hingedly-mounted on the receptacle, locking means beingprovided opposite to the said hinge. 5

In the latter case, it is convenient to cause the inlet of the fluidunder pressure to take place through a union carried by the cover andcommunicating with the interior of the receptacle through a turnabletight-joint formed in the l0 articulation of the hinge.

On the accompanying drawing is shown, by way of example only, apparatusconstructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of one apparatus; 15

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on a plane perpendicular to that of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 shows a modified construction of a detail of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan View corresponding to Fig. 3; 20

Fig. 5 is a sectional View, to a larger scale, of a part of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of a corner portion ofa container and its receptacle. 25

'I'he apparatus shown on the drawing com.- prses a metallic receptacle lhaving the external shape of the container 2 which it has to enclose.

In the present example, the container is shown as having a circular endand a lateral wall hav- 30 ing the shape of the surface known ingeometry as a Wallis corner.

The circular edge of the receptacle is reinforced by a small collar 3,which is xed by any suitable means and has internally a groove 4 35adapted to receive part of an upwardly and outwardly bulging part ofcompressible material formed around the circular end of the container byrolling the material of the side Walls of the container and theperipheral portion of the end 40 upwardly and inwardly.

At its periphery, the cover 5 has a circular groove 6 adapted to receivepart of the bulging part of the container end and a plane lower face l,which bears on the bottom of the container. 45 The cover 5 is alsoformed centrally with a hole 8 receiving a spout 9 which is opposite toa hole Il) formed in the bottom of the container.

The cover 5 is locked on the receptacle I by means of screws ll, theheads of which are en- 50 closed between bosses I2 on the collar 3 andcan pivot around axes I3, nuts i4 locking against lugs l5 on the cover.The locking of the said screws presses the bulging part of the end ofthe container 2 between the walls of grooves 4 and 6, thus 55 ensuringtightness of the joint between the receptacle I and the cover 5. At thesame time, the container is held in position with its discharge holeopposite to the hole in the spout 9.

The small collar 3 is formed on its periphery, with a channel I6,communicating with the interior of the receptacle, and adapted to beconnected to a source of fluid under pressure; for example, compressedair. A compression-release needle valve I1 allows the interior of thereceptacle to be connected to atmospheric pressure.

In order to use the apparatus, it suffices to introduce the container 2into the receptacle I, lodging the bulging part of the end in thegroove, 4, whereafter, after having opened the hole Iii, the cover isarranged in position and compressed air is introduced through thechannel I6. The air iiows between the walls of the receptacle and thoseof the container and tends to crush the latter, commencing at the leastrigid portion of its surface; that is, the part opposite to the b-ottom.

The material in the container flows through the hole IG and the spout 9,the pressure created around the hole tending to force the end againstthe cover and to form a` tight-joint preventing the material spreadingover the whole of the surface of the end.

The discharge of the material may be stopped at will by cutting off theinlet of air and opening the pressure release needle valve I'I.

It will be seen that with this apparatus the container is emptiedstarting from the part opposite to the rigid end and that as the airpressure acts over the whole surface, the discharge of the material isstopped only when the lateral walls have come into contact with eachother and bear on the rigid end; that is to say, when the discharge ofthe material is complete.

In the modied construction shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the cover 5 ispivoted on a hinge 2li and is held in position at the other end of thediameter by means of a screw I I, the nut I4 of which bears on a lug I5on the cover, as in the previously described construction.

As shown in Fig. 5, the hinge comprises two cheeks 2l and 22 provided onthe ring 4, between which is engaged a tenon 23 extending from thecover. The latter can pivot around a bearing 24 which is engaged in ahousing formed in the cheek 2I and around a member 25 screwed into thecheek 22, and which is engaged in a housing 26 of the tenon 23. A spring21 arranged in the member 25 constantly forces the tenon 23 on the cheek2 I.

The compressed air flows through a hole 36 in the cover, passes throughthe channel 31, which communicates through the housing 28 with a channel29 formed in the cheek 2I, and by this route, with the interior of thereceptacle I. A cup leather 30 forced by a spring 3l on the face of thecheek 2l insures tightness for the passage of the air between the twomembers.

A stop valve 32, arranged in the path of the air, permits the filling ofthe receptacle I, but is opposed to any reverse flow. A needle valve 33at the end of the channel 29 allows the receptacle I to be put intocommunication with the atmosphere.

Discharge of the material expelled from the container is made through ahole 8 and the spout 9.

An interrupting member is constituted by a cylindrical slide valve 34,which slides in a hole connecting the air inlet channel 36 and thedischarge channel 8 for the material. In the position shown in thedrawing, said slide valve allows the inlet of air and the discharge ofmaterial. By pushing it to the left, it closes the two conduitssimultaneously. Tight-joints 35 are arranged around the slide valve 34,in order to avoid any loss of air or of the material under pressure.

The operation of the apparatus is the same as that previously described,with this diiierence that the existence of the hinge 2B, by obviatingthe separation of the receptacle I from its cover 5, makes handlingeasier. The use of the interrupter 34 allows the apparatus to be leftunder pressure, whilst interrupting the flow of material.

Other constructional forms can be realized. For example, the receptacleI could have any shape whatever and could be arranged to receivediierent types of containers of different shapes and dimensions,

The tight-joint between the receptacle and its cover could be formed byany suitable known material, independently of the iixing of thecontainer. It will thus be sufficient, in order to maintain and forcethe latter against the cover, with a resilient member, a coil spring forinstance, surrounding the cartridge and bearing on an internal rim ofthe wall of the receptacle I.

The hole 8 may be arranged in another position than in the cover. Itmay, for instance, be arranged in a bottom of the receptacle, oppositeto the cover, resilient members similar to those which have beendescribed, being used for pressing the container against that part ofthe receptacle.

I claim:

1. A lubricant dispenser comprising a container having a collapsiblelateral wall and a rigid end portion having a discharge opening, acasing provided with an opening of suicient size to receive saidcontainer, with the rigid end of the container occupying said opening, acover pivoted on the casing to close said opening over the rigid end ofthe container, said cover being provided with a discharge opening, acompressed air connection opening into the casing, and means tosimultaneously establish tight communication of the opening in the coverwith that of the container, and tightness between the cover and thecasing when said cover is closed.

2. In combination, a container for lubricant with rigid end providedwith a discharge opening and lateral walls of collapsible material and acompressible bulging part around the circumference of the rigid end, arigid casing for enclosing the container, a movable cover for saidcasing, said cover being provided with a central discharge opening, theupper part of the casing having a groove for supporting and centeringthe bulging part of the container in the casing, the circumference ofthe cover having a groove for centering the latter on the container andpressing the said bulging part, means for locking the cover on thereceptacle, the` er for the casing, said cover being provided with acentral discharge opening, the upper part of the casing having a groovefor supporting and centering the bulging part of the container withinthe casing, the circumference of the cover having a groove for centeringthe latter on the container and pressing the said bulging part, meansfor locking the cover on the casing, the groove of the cover beingarranged in such a manner that, at the time of locking, the lower faceof the cover is applied against the rigid end of the container and aninlet conduit for compressed air at the upper part of the casing, saidconduit opening out into the free space between the casing and thecontainer.

4. In combination, a container for lubricant with rigid end providedwith a discharge opening and lateral walls of collapsible material and acompressible bulging part around the circumference of the rigid end,comprising a rigid casing for enclosing the container, a movable coverfor the casing, said cover being provided with a central dischargeorice, the upper part of the casing having a groove for supporting andcentering the bulging part of the container in the casing, thecircumference of the cover having a groove for centering the latter onthe container and pressing the aforesaid bulging part, screws pivoted atone end on the casing and engaging in recesses in the cover and lockingnuts mounted on these screws, the groove of the cover being arranged insuch a manner that, at the time of locking, the lower face of the coveris applied on the bottom of the container, an inlet conduit forcompressed air at the upper part of the casing, said conduit opening outinto the free space between the casing and the container and a valve formaking the conduit communicate with the atmosphere to release thepressure to stop the discharge.

5. Apparatus for emptying containers having rigid ends provided with adischarge opening and having lateral walls of iiexible material, saidapparatus comprising a rigid casing for enclosing the container, amovable cover for the casing, said cover being provid-ed with a centraldischarge opening, a spring for applying the bottom of the containeragainst the lower face of the cover, said spring being interposedbetween the container and a collar of the casing, an annular jointinterposed between the cover and the casing, means for locking the coveron the casing and means for introducing a iluid under pressure in thecasing between the wall of the latter and the container.

6. An apparatus for emptying containers with rigid ends provided withdischarge openings and lateral walls of exible material, said containerbeing provided with a bulge at the rim formed by the flexible materialat the circumference of the end, comprising a rigid casing for enclosingthe container, a movable cover for the casing, said cover being providedwith a central discharge opening, the upper part of the casing having agroove for supporting and centering the bulge on the cover in thecasing, the circumference of the cover having a groove for centering thelatter on the container and pressing the said bulge, an articulation onthe casing for the cover, a pivotal screw and a nut for the locking ofthe said cover, Athe groove of the cover being disposed in such a mannerthat, at the time of locking, the inner face of the cover is appliedagainst the bottom of the container, a fiuid inlet union under pressuremounted on the lateral walls of flexible material comprising, a,

rigid casing for enclosing the container, a movable cover for thecasing, said cover being provided with a central discharge opening,means for putting the discharge opening in the container and the openingin the cover into tight communication, a conduit for compressed air inthe cover, a second conduit extending from the discharge openingparallel to the preceding conduit, a slide valve for simultaneouslyopening or closing the two conduits, and means for making the air inletconduit communicate with the casing.

8. An apparatus for emptying containers with rigid ends provided withdischarge openings and lateral walls of flexible material, comprising arigid casing for enclosing the container, a movable cover for thecasing, said cover being provided with a central discharge opening,means for putting the discharge opening of the container and the openingin the cover into tight communication, an articulation for the cover onthe casing, a pivoting screw and a nut for the locking of the saidcover, an inlet union for iluid under pressure mounted on the cover anda turnable joint mounted in the articulation of the cover in order tomake the union communicate with the interior of the casing.

9- An apparatus for emptying containers with rigid ends provided withdischarge openings and lateral walls of iiexible material, comprising arigid casing for enclosing the container, a movable cover for thecasing, said cover being provided with a central discharge opening,means for putting the discharge opening of the container and the openingin the cover into tight communication, an articulation for the cover onthe casing, a pivoting screw and a nut for the locking of the saidcover, a compressed air inlet conduit in the cover, a second conduitextending from the discharge parallel to the preceding conduit, a slidevalve for opening or closing the two conduits simultaneously, acommunication between the air inlet conduit and the casing, saidcommunication including two conduits following the articulation of thecover in the latter and in the casing respectively, and a turnable jointbetween the two last mentioned conduits.

l0. An apparatus for emptying containers with rigid ends provided withdischarge openings and lateral walls of flexible material, saidcontainer being provided with a bulge at the rim formed by the ilexiblematerial on the circumference of the bottom, comprising a rigid casingfor enclosing the container, a movable cover for the casing, said coverbeing provided with a central discharge opening, the upper part of thecasing having a groove for supporting and centering the bulge on thecontainer in the casing, the circumference or" the cover having a groovefor centering the latter on the container and pressing the said bulge,an articulation for the cover on the casing, a pivoting screw and a nutfor the locking of the said cover, the groove of the cover beingarranged in such a manner that, at the time of locking, the lower faceof the cover is applied on the bottom of the container, a compressed airinlet conduit in the cover, a second conduit extending from thedischarge opening parallel to the preceding conduit, a slide valve foropening or closing simultaneously the two conduits, a communicationbetween the air inlet conduit and the casing, the communicationincluding two conduits following the articulation of the cover, in thelatter and in the casing respectively, and a turnable joint betweenthese two conduits.

1l. An apparatus for emptying containers with rigid ends provided withdischarge openings and lateral walls of flexible material, saidcontainer being provided with a bulge at the rim formed by the flexiblematerial on the circumference of the end, comprising a rigid casing forenclosing the container, a movable cover for the casing, said coverbeing provided with a central discharge opening, the upper part of thecasing having a groove for supporting and centering the bulge on thecontainer in the casing, the circumference of the cover having a groove:for centering the latter on the container and pressing the said bulge,an articulation for the cover on the casing, a pivoting screw and a nutfor the locking of the said cover, the groove of the cover beingarranged in such a manner that, at the time of locking, the lower faceof the cover is applied on the bottom of the container, a compressed airinlet conduit in the cover, a second conduit extending from thedischarge opening parallel to the preceding conduit, a slide valve foropening or closing the two conduits simultaneously, a communicationbetween the air inlet conduit and the casing, the communicationincluding two conduits following the articulation of the cover, in thelatter and in the casing respectively, and a turnable joint betweenthese two conduits, a conduit for making the casing communicate with theatmosphere and a Valve for closing and opening the conduit at will.

EMILE PIQUEREZ.

